Incentivizes businesses to explore bike deliveries, boosting efficiencies and reducing carbon emissions

Today, the City Council passed first-in-the-nation legislation (CB 121040), creating a brand new e-cargo bike program in Seattle. The bill allows for e-cargo bikes to park in curbside parking and loading. The program also includes a waived permit fee for the first year, incentivizing adoption of e-cargo bikes for a range of businesses from small local shops to large freight operators. 

“This new, innovative program is the kind of transformative legislation that makes our city special,” said Transportation Chair Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1). “Drawing on best practices from peer cities at home and abroad, this new e-cargo bike permitting program sets safe, clear standards for operators, while at the same time allowing flexibility as the market continues to evolve. By creating a program that fosters commercial e-cargo bike adoption and use, we’re taking an important step in reducing emissions, creating less congestion, and ultimately safer streets to help achieve our Vision Zero goals.”  

Background

The Commercial E-Cargo Bike program was unanimously voted out of the Transportation Committee last Tuesday, Sept. 16. It specifically establishes a definition for e-cargo bikes in city code and creates rules for operations, parking, and loading for e-cargo bicycle delivery and clarifying new curb allowances for e-cargo bike delivery. An e-cargo permit will now allow permittees to utilize timed load/unload zones, paid areas, restricted zones, time-limited areas, and on-street bike corrals without payment for parking.

The legislation was amended in committee from a 6-month to 12-month fee waiver to encourage adoption as well as adding operator liability insurance as a permit condition at the discretion of the Director of Transportation. 

Next steps

The bills now move to the Mayor’s office for his consideration and signature. 

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